KEVIN McKenna is an independenista after my own heart.

I, like so many chums in the Yes movement, favour “independence as a preference rather than as a sacred mission”. He is equally correct in his view that criticising the ruling party risks alienating the critical 10% of the voters needed for the swing to bring an independent Scotland into existence, but the lack of effective opposition to a rudderless government enfeebles our democracy.

Undoubtedly the Labour Party in Scotland have been left twisting in the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) wind since 80% of their MSPs voted for the bill but seem unwilling to take up cudgels with their London bosses to defend their right to legislate in Holyrood.

It is an incontrovertible fact that the First Minister, having invested much political capital in the GRR Bill, has failed yet again. And the Rule Britannia brigade with their contempt for their neighbours in North Britain have been provided with yet more ammunition that Holyrood is indeed nothing more than a pretendy parliament.

Given Monday evening’s car-crash interviews on national television, the First Minister’s previous omnipotent invincibility is clearly no longer what it was.

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Her constant anthem during her eight-year reign is “judge me by my record”. Well then, the health service? Admittedly there’s been mitigating circumstances but Scotland’s Covid deaths on a population basis aren’t that clever on detailed examination.

Her policy to ask the Supreme Court for their opinion on whether or not Holyrood had the authority to conduct a “gold standard” has failed.

Her continuing mismanagement of the ferries debacle goes beyond the pale.

Our own countrymen and women are in the grip of a multi-dimensional crisis conjured up by the failed state that is the UK. Ironic is it not that Nicola Sturgeon promised to set up a publicly owned, not-for-profit company to sell gas and electricity to customers at low prices by 2021 at the 2017 SNP conference? I was there and I was excited by the prospect. Blaming the failed UK state for our ills is increasingly feeble.

Her principled stance at COP26 against the development of new oil fields is likely too to be heading for humiliation given Westminster’s current penchant for macho politics.

Can the First Minister, clearly with her back against the firmest of political walls, really expect to take the Yes community with her if she has to spend the next 18-24 months “fixing” the GRR mess? Does she really have anything left “in the tank”?

Yet this current debacle can provide the ideal opportunity for her to salvage a valuable legacy.

Following the failure of the 2014 independence campaign, Alex Salmond, who gave his all, saw it as his duty to resign when his efforts came to nought.

Can she take a principled stand for politics in Scotland and give us an unexpected red letter day in the battle for Scottish independence? Has she the courage and selflessness to fall on her political sword having had her flagship policy fail to make it onto the statute book?

Save us all, First Minister, from wasting further time and mandates. Stop jousting with the British constitution and Westminster’s conventions.

Resign now and bring on the de facto independence election for Holyrood to provide the best chance of a positive result for your country and its citizens.

Iain Bruce

Nairn

A REFERENDUM every seven years?!? Does Mr Hanvey not understand that if we do it right we only need one more referendum?

Ni Holmes

St Andrews